LITTLE CHUTE (WLUK) -- Families filled Doyle Park on Friday waiting for the village's first Fourth of July fireworks show.

"Baseball, fireworks and Fourth of July," said Joe Harlow with a grin. "What's more American than that?"

Harlow is the man behind the effort.

For him, it's personal.

"A big part of my childhood was going to the area business, fundraising and collecting the money, the community coming together to put on a good show," he said.

Now, he's doing the same work as an adult, hoping to make it a tradition.

Harlow got started on the project last August.

It was a hefty to do list, from coordinating with the village board and street departments, plus finding sponsors.

"Joe called me and asked if we would be interested," remembers Phil Weigman. It was an easy yes.

President of the the village's Diamond Club, he says the youth baseball league pulled together money, food and volunteers to sponsor the event.

"Burgers, brats hot dogs, water, soda, gatorade," he listed. "A few games now first year, see how it goes, then maybe get bigger after this year."

Getting bigger is the hope as the fireworks crew preps for the $15,000 show.

But as for children like Violet...

"My favorite colors are pink and purple," she said.

Her hope is that her favorite colors will light up the sky, once the show begins.